Adjustable ratchet wrench

ABSTRACT

An adjustable ratchet wrench of the open-face type, a movable jaw and at least two fixed gripping surfaces. The movable jaw is adjustable toward and away from the fixed jaw&#39;&#39;s two gripping surfaces along a line parallel to the bisector of the angle formed by the surfaces. The movable jaw is pivoted to give the ratcheting function.

United States Patent Baxter 1 May 16, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE RATCHET WRENCH 3,104,570 9/1963 Haenni et al ..81/97 x Inventor: John C. Baxter, 3033 y SE. Grand 328,270 10/1885 W1ll1amson ..81/97 Rapids, Mich- 49506 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Filed: p 29, 1969 18,038 1900 Great Britain ..81/97 21 A LN 861 865 l 1 pp 0 Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr.

Au0rneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [52] U.S. Cl ..81/97 [51] Int. Cl ..B25b 13/28 [57] ABSTRACT ..8 4 7, l 1 186 [58] Field of Search 9 l 1 85 An ad ustable ratchet wrench of the open-face type, a mova- 56] References Cited ble jaw and at least two fixed gripping surfaces. The movable jaw is adjustable toward and away from the fixed jaws two UNITED STATES PATENTS gripping surfaces along a line parallel to the bisector of the angle formed by the surfaces. The movable jaw is pivoted to 2,470,007 5/1949 Watson ..81/97 give the racheting function 2,516,395 7/1950 Kerr ....8l/92 599,169 2/1896 Fostner ..81/97 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 16 m2 INVEHTOR JOHN C. BAXTER BY P W W ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE RA'I'CI-IET WRENCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of ratchet wrenches wherein a movable jaw is mounted so as to be automatically locked in position against movement when the wrench is turned in one direction and releasable to enable the wrench to be turned in the other direction without disturbing the nut, there are a number of wrenches which are somewhat adjustable to accommodate different size nuts. However, these prior art wrenches are generally characterized by a lack of a wide range of adjustability, and in many cases the wrenches are not of the openfaced type so that they must be inserted over the nut or bolt rather than slid around it.

There have been some ratchet wrenches developed that have a great degree of adjustability, but these wrenches are characterized by complex structure. Also, with many of such wrenches it is more difficult for the wrench to positively grip the nut or bolt. This is especially true of hexagonal nuts and bolts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable open-faced ratchet wrench designed to accommodate hexagonal nuts and bolts as well as the old style square-headed bolts. Specifically, I have discovered a simple construction for an adjustable ratchet wrench which is constructed of a minimum number of parts (preferably four in number) which are easily fabricated and assembled and preferably only one of which is movable. My wrench comprises a handle and a fixed jaw having two nut contact surfaces defining an angle therebetween for receiving the nut or bolt head. Opposite these surfaces is a movable jaw having a free contact edge for contacting the nut or bolt head and a means for pivoting the same in one direction to permit it to slide over the nut while at the same time means is provided for preventing pivoting of the edge beyond a predetermined position in the opposite direction so that it can turn the nut. Means is partially contained within the handle for advancing the movable jaw toward the surfaces along a line parallel to the bisector of said angle, and means is also provided for biasing the jaw about the pivot in the said opposite direction to the said predetermined position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an open-faced adjustable ratchet wrench designed to handle hexagonal nuts and bolts of a wide range of sizes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrench of the above character which is simple in its construction, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a wrench of the above character which is simple to assemble.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the following drawings and detailed discussion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned elevational view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the wrench illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the head of my wrench in a position being ratcheted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention concerns a ratchet wrench designed to accommodate specifically hexagonal nuts and bolts 8, but which will also accommodate a rectangular headed bolt. Specifically, the invention provides an open-faced wrench having a handle 12 at one end and a fixed jaw 14 at the other. The fixed jaw 14 has two flat hardened gripping elements or surfaces 16 and 18 which define an angle of substantially 120. The handle 12 is a one piece molded or stamped element of great tensile and torque strength but of limited hardness. As a result, elements 16 and 18 are separate hardened elements secured to the handle, as shown. Thus, the surfaces can withstand the gouging and wearing exerted thereon by the nuts and bolt heads. The handle of the wrench has a chamber 13 therein in which the adjustable and ratchet-like jaw 26 is mounted along with the adjustment mechanism.

The jaw 26 is a separate element having a portion 44 located outside the handle and portion 40 located within the handle. As shown in FIG. 2 (the broken lines representing the portion of-jaw 26 above the cross-section), portion 40 is substantially thinner in cross-section than portion 44 providing the shoulders 45a and 45b at the juncture thereof. Portion 44 extends through the elongated slot 42 provided in housing 12 and communicating with chamber 13.

The jaw 26 is pivotably mounted on handle 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of the pivot member 28 contained within chamber 13 of the handle 12 opposite the shoulders 45a and 45b so that the wall 46 of handle 12 is located therebetween.

The ratcheting of the jaw 26 is accomplished by biasing the movable jaw toward the handle 12 by means of a spring 30, the end 32 of the spring being hooked into an ear 33 of the handle 12 and the other end 34 being attached to the movable jaw 26. The movement of the movable jaw 26 towards the handle 12 is limited by shoulders 45a and 45b.

The position of jaw 26 within the slot 42 is determined by a threaded rod 60 screwed into the end 62 of the handle 12 which is of considerable length so as to hold the rod 60 in correct alignment within the handle 12. The rod 60 is adjusted by turning the head 64 thereby advancing the movable jaw 26 which rides on the end 66 of the rod. The position of the jaw can be broadly determined by the calibrations as shown in FIG. 3 showing the index mark on rod 60 which moves with the rod 60 and aligns with marks 5 2, 1, W2, and 1% inches as the case may be.

An important aspect of this invention is the locus of the path of the end 68 of the jaw 26 as it is adjusted for various size nuts. This locus designated by the letter L is parallel to the bisector line B which bisects the angles between the surfaces 16 and 18. This parallel line L is located on the side of the bisector line B toward the jaw 26. The reason for this will be readily appreciated from the illustration shown wherein it is noted that the contact portion or end 68, which preferably is a line contact, must contact the nut 8 at the side 9 if it is to grip and turn the nut. It is also preferred, although not necessary within the broadest aspect of this invention, that a line (designated C) drawn through the pivotal axis of pivot member 28 and the point or line of contact of the inner gripping portion 68 with nut 8, be perpendicular to the surface 18 and accordingly perpendicular to the side 9 of the hexagonal nut 8. The reason for this is that if the line is not perpendicular, there will be some torque on the movable jaw, on the power stroke of the wrench. This puts more strain on the jaw 26.

OPERATION Having described my wrench, its operation should be quite evident. First, the wrench is adjusted to the approximate position indicated by the calibration lines 'r, l, 1%, etc. as the case may be. The wrench is then placed on the nut or bolt head 8 as shown in FIG. 1. Then the knob 64 is turned in a clockwise direction causing the jaw 26 to move towards the two surfaces or elements 16 and 18 and engage the nut. It will be noted that in accordance with the construction as shown and described, the gripping end or edge 68 is caused to move along the locus line L. Thus when the gripping edge 68 contacts the nut or bolt head 8, it will be located on a side to the left of the bisector line B. This is essential, as previously described, in order to properly engage the nut. Force is then applied to the handle in a counterclockwise direction causing the gripping edge 68 to apply a torque to the side 9 of the nut 8. When the handle has been actuated or turned to a limit which is permitted, another grip can be obtained on the nut 8 by turning the handle in a clockwise direction. In so doing, the gripping edge 68 rides along the wall 9 (FIG. and beyond the apex 70 formed between the lines 9 and 9a. Having passed this apex 70, (or a number of apexes between the nut sides as the case may be), the gripping edge 68 can take another grip on the nut 8 and thus the nut can again be turned by the wrench in a counterclockwise direction.

It is obvious that this wrench can be used to loosen or tighten a large range of nut sizes. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 by the small nut 8a shown in dotted lines. It should be readily obvious that adjustment of the threaded rod 60 will move the jaw 26 upwardly until the contact edge 68 engages the small nut 8a. When so engaged, the contact edge 68 is in proper contact with the nut so that it can be turned by the wrench.

It should be understood that if the nut is to be turned in the opposite direction, that is in a clockwise direction, the wrench is turned around, that is with the handle on the opposite side of the nut from that shown in FIG. 1.

Having described my invention, it should become obvious that it has many distinct advantages over previous types of wrenches. It is simple, made up of very few parts, inexpensive to manufacture, and adjustable for many different sizes of nuts and bolt heads. The adjustment is an easy adjustment and automatically positions the jaws in proper relationship to the nut or bolt head regardless of the size.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An adjustable ratchet wrench, comprising a handle, a fixed jaw, said fixed jaw having two nut contact surfaces defining an angle therebetween, a movable jaw having a contact portion and a pivot means located on one side of a line bisecting said angle, adjustment means for moving said movable jaw toward and away from said surfaces with said contact portion having a locus along a line substantially parallel to the said line bisecting said angle, means for biasing said movable jaw about said pivot in a direction toward said parallel line; and stop means for restraining the pivotal movement of'said movable jaw in said direction to position said contact on said parallel line, said movable jaw being free to pivot past said line bisecting said angle in a direction opposite to said biased direction; said pivot means and said contact edge lying on a line approximately perpendicular to one of said surfaces.

2. The wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw is mounted on said handle and is hinged by said pivot means within said handle.

3. The wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw is mounted on said handle and is hinged by said pivot means within said handle, and said adjusting means includes a rod threaded within said handle so as to engage said movable jaw within said handle.

4. The wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said handle includes a slot and said movable jaw has a portion projecting through said slot and another portion located said handle.

5. The wrench as defined in claim 2, wherein said biasing means includes a spring, one end of which is connected to said handle.

6. The wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said biasing means includes a spring, one end of which is connected to said handle.

7. An adjustable ratchet wrench, comprising a handle, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, one of said jaws having two nut contact surfaces defining an angle therebetween, the other of said jaws having a contact portion and being pivoted about a pivot means located on one side of a line bisecting said angle, adjustment means for moving one of said jaws toward and away from the other of said jaws, and said contact portion in any position of said jaws being located on a line substantially parallel to the said line bisecting said angle, means for biasing said ivoted jaw about said ivot in a direction toward said para el line; and stop means or restraining the pivotal movement of said pivoted jaw in said direction to position said contact on said parallel line, said pivoted jaw being free to pivot past said line bisecting said angle in a direction opposite to said biased direction; said pivot means and said contact edge lying on a line approximately perpendicular to one of said surfaces. 

1. An adjustable ratchet wrench, comprising a handle, a fixed jaw, said fixed jaw having two nut contact surfaces defining an angle therebetween, a movable jaw having a contact portion and a pivot means located on one side of a line bisecting said angle, adjustment means for moving said movable jaw toward and away from said surfaces with said contact portion having a locus along a line substantially parallel to the said line bisecting said angle, means for biasing said movable jaw about said pivot in a direction toward said parallel line; and stop means for restraining the pivotal movement of said movable jaw in said direction to position said contact on said parallel line, said movable jaw being free to pivot past said line bisecting said angle in a direction opposite to said biased direction; said pivot means and said contact edge lying on a line approximately perpendicular to one of said surfaces.
 2. The wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw is mounted on said handle and is hinged by said pivot means within said handle.
 3. The wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw is mounted on said handle and is hinged by said pivot means within said handle, and said adjusting means includes a rod threaded within said handle so as to engage said movable jaw within said handle.
 4. The wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said handle includes a slot and said movable jaw has a portion projecting through said slot and anotHer portion located said handle.
 5. The wrench as defined in claim 2, wherein said biasing means includes a spring, one end of which is connected to said handle.
 6. The wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said biasing means includes a spring, one end of which is connected to said handle.
 7. An adjustable ratchet wrench, comprising a handle, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, one of said jaws having two nut contact surfaces defining an angle therebetween, the other of said jaws having a contact portion and being pivoted about a pivot means located on one side of a line bisecting said angle, adjustment means for moving one of said jaws toward and away from the other of said jaws, and said contact portion in any position of said jaws being located on a line substantially parallel to the said line bisecting said angle, means for biasing said pivoted jaw about said pivot in a direction toward said parallel line; and stop means for restraining the pivotal movement of said pivoted jaw in said direction to position said contact on said parallel line, said pivoted jaw being free to pivot past said line bisecting said angle in a direction opposite to said biased direction; said pivot means and said contact edge lying on a line approximately perpendicular to one of said surfaces. 